Waterloo, IA: (319) 232-1156 | Investor Login
Wes James, Vice President of Operations at TechWorks Campus, is mentioned in this article about the Grundy Center expansion of lubricant manufacturer ELM. ELM founder Lou Honary and James developed a new way of using microwaves to process grease to eliminate the dangers of heat transfer oils.
Grundy Center firm back ‘on track’ after disastrous 2007 fire, by Pat Kinney, December 10, 2017
Construction has begun on the hotel on the TechWorks Campus in the Cedar Valley of Iowa.
$40M hotel, training center, conference space, restaurant construction launch in Tech 2 building
Today, TechWorks Campus, a subsidiary of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber, together with the City of Waterloo, Iowa Economic Development Authority, and Financial District Properties (FDP), celebrated the construction launch of the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, John Deere Training Center, and restaurant in the Tech 2 building on the TechWorks Campus. The construction launch represents a significant step in the continued progress of developing The Green@TechWorks.
Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, and Iowa Economic Development Authority representatives were present to celebrate the launch and its significance as one of the first designated Iowa Reinvestment Districts (IRD) and one of the first IRD project to get underway.
Tech 2, an 88-year old former John Deere tractor manufacturing building, is being transformed into The Green@TechWorks re-development project. The 180,000 square foot, six-story building will house a 191-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel; a new restaurant operated by Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc. (CRO); John Deere Regional Training Center and a conference center (managed by Courtyard). The Green project is a principal feature of the overall TechWorks Campus riverfront re-development.
Also celebrating the launch was hotel operator Hotel Specialists, Inc. (HSI) of Jacksonville, Illinois and restaurant operator Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc. (CRO) of Dallas, Texas.
The Green & Overall Project
The Green@TechWorks is part of the larger 33-acre TechWorks Campus. In addition to the Tech 1 and Tech 2 buildings (formerly John Deere Westfield R & C2) the campus includes parcels suitable for light manufacturing and retail. TechWorks Campus is the first technology park of its kind in Iowa to combine world class business amenities within a Brownfield redevelopment site.
The John Deere Waterloo Tractor & Engine Museum is already established in the Campus area, as is the Tech 1 Center for Applied Advanced Manufacturing, including the University of Northern Iowa’s Metal Casting and Additive (3D) Manufacturing Center and a Design Lab in partnership with Hawkeye Community College.
A marina and a riverfront restaurant along the Cedar River are also part of the overall $74.1 million Campus development plan.
“This is a momentous day for TechWorks, the city, and the state of Iowa,” says Cary Darrah, General Manager of TechWorks Campus. “Finally, the public can see the results of years of planning and the efforts of those who believed in the vision for this campus. This is the first of many celebrations to come!”
Downtown Momentum
TechWorks Campus is just steps to the Cedar Valley Recreation Trails, entertainment & museum districts, and a variety of Riverloop District amenities.
Other developments underway in the vicinity include: Grand Crossing mixed use residential/condominiums, Single Speed Brewery with Sidecar Coffee Shop, and Hawkeye Community College Urban Campus.
Construction of the Tech 2 building is now underway, with a projected hotel opening in Spring 2017.
TechWorks Campus is a private non-profit corporation and subsidiary of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber. More information can be found at www.techworkscampus.com or by contacting Cary Darrah, General Manager at cdarrah@cedarvalleyalliance.com, or Wes James Facilities Manager at wjames@cedarvalleyalliance.com, or by calling (319) 232-1156.
Read more in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier.
Development Team Contacts:
The Green@TechWorks – Financial District Properties: Rodney Blackwell 563-324-9898
City of Waterloo: Mayor Quentin Hart 319-291-4301 or
Economic Development Director Noel Anderson 319-291-4366
Cedar Valley of Iowa – The 2015 AMC Engineering Conference will be held May 5-7 at the Ramada Inn and Five Sullivan’s Convention Center in Waterloo. This is the 30th anniversary of the Annual AMC Engineering Conference which is an educational conference and tradeshow for agricultural and off-highway equipment design engineers.
AMC (formerly Agricultural Machinery Conference) is a forum for engineers, managers and other professionals in the field of agricultural equipment design to gather with the purpose of exchanging ideas, see the latest component technology, and learn new design practices, techniques and methods of importance to the industry.
Waterloo was selected because of its position in the heart of U.S. agriculture and agricultural machinery industry.
The event will include informational and technical sessions on the most important areas of equipment design and development and attendees will have the opportunity to listen in on any of nearly 50 presentations in fields as varied as engines, ergonomics and economics.
The Alliance & Chamber will co-sponsor a booth with TechWorks Campus and UNI Metal Castings Center at the Conference to showcase the cooperation between TechWorks and UNI’s Metal Casting Center’s expertise in Additive Manufacturing (3-D printing), and the resulting partnerships with industry, both within the state and beyond. TechWorks will also play host to the Conference opening ceremonies on Tuesday with a social hour, dinner & keynote presentation, and Campus tour.
“This is an excellent opportunity to show a key technology-based business audience firsthand the advanced technologies available and planned at TechWorks and share the vision for where it is headed with the startup of the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub,” says Wes James, TechWorks Facilities Manager & Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center Operations Director, “They will leave with the message that the Cedar Valley is a great place to develop product ideas and processes.”
More information about the conference and registration can be found here: http://www.amc-online.org/About.html
To learn more about TechWorks Campus and additive manufacturing, contact Wes James at wjames@cedarvalleyalliance.com or by calling 319-287-8149.
###
Cedar Valley of Iowa – With plans moving forward at the Cedar Valley TechWorks to establish the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center, a position has been created and filled to oversee the startup operations of the new center and its incubator/accelerator. Wes James joins the TechWorks team as the former General Manager of NABL Center, which previously operated in TechWorks’ Tech 1 building. Mr. James’ background also includes incubator development and operations management. He holds a B.S. in Ag Business with an Economic Analysis/Policy Emphasis from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Iowa. Cary Darrah, TechWorks General Manager, commented, “We’re excited and honored to include Wes on our team to partner with the Iowa Innovation Corporation in establishing the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center and moving the TechWorks campus forward. Wes has a wealth of experience in strategic planning for business start-ups as well as incubation management – key attributes necessary in connecting the industry resources required to launch the center.”
TechWorks Campus and Iowa Innovation Council welcome Wes James into the role of Director of Operations, Industrial Incubator/Accelerator
TechWorks will partner with the Iowa Innovation Corporation to establish and house the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center (IAMC) in the Tech I building on the TechWorks Campus. This newly created position is jointly funded by the Iowa Innovation Corporation and TechWorks as part of the IAMC start-up.
TechWorks is a 30-acre campus containing 20 acres of development sites and 300,000 square feet of space in two existing buildings undergoing renovation. In 2007, Deere & Company donated land and buildings to start this innovation-driven economic development project. This historic plant was the site of manufacturing and assembly of the earliest John Deere tractors. The TechWorks Campus is a subsidiary of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.
Cedar Valley of Iowa – On February 5, the Iowa Innovation Corporation will unveil the vision for the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center (IAMC). Two announcement / presentations will be made by Mark Kittrell, President, Iowa Innovation Corporation (IIC) on that day. The first will be at 9:00am during the 2014 Cedar Valley Manufacturing Conference held in Tama Hall on the Hawkeye Community College campus. Later, Kittrell will make an official presentation in Des Moines as a part of the IIC Legislative reception at 5:00pm at the World Food Prize building.
Kittrell’s announcement is expected to include: the IAMC proposed location at the Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo; the role and composition of the newly formed Advanced Manufacturing Workgroup ; a schedule of Advanced Manufacturing Focus Groups to be held in various locations; the resources to be offered to Iowa small & medium size manufacturers such as an industrial business incubator, acceleration services, modeling and simulation, industrial laboratories, state of the art production equipment, access to Iowa’s top industrial innovation work and talent from our universities and community colleges, and process improvement.
Kittrell will also discuss capital and operational funding necessary to continue development of the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center.
Advanced Manufacturing Workgroup
Co-chaired by Sarah McDonald Hasken, Vice President, A.Y. McDonald MFG. Co., and Glenn Baker, Director Global Manufacturing and Enterprise Services, John Deere, this core group of Iowa’s manufacturing sector, has been formed to set the direction for the IAMC.
The workgroup comprises leaders from all types of advanced manufacturing in the state of Iowa and also includes representatives of the regent universities, community colleges, state government, engineering, business associations and economic development leaders. David Takes, President of Doerfer; Mark Hanawalt, President/CEO of United Business Equipment; and Marvin Schumacher, President of Schumacher Elevator; Metal Casting Center Director Jerry Thiel; Linda Allen, President of Hawkeye Community College; and TechWorks representatives Cary Darrah, Wes James, and Steve Dust participate in the Workgroup from the Cedar Valley.
Advanced Manufacturing Focus Groups
The Advanced Manufacturing Workgroup will hold a series of industry focus group sessions around the state to discuss the issues faced and needs of small & medium size manufacturers. The focus group sessions will be held March through mid -April. Advanced Manufacturing Focus Group Sessions will be held in: Council Bluffs, Mason City, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Dubuque, Iowa Quad Cities, and Holstein. Earlier, a session was held in the Cedar Valley.
TechWorks Campus
TechWorks is a 30-acre campus containing 20 acres of development sites and 300,000 square feet of space in two existing buildings undergoing renovation. In 2007, Deere & Company donated land and buildings to start this innovation-driven economic development project. This historic plant was the site of manufacturing and assembly of the earliest John Deere tractors. TechWorks Campus is a subsidiary of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.
TechWorks will partner with the Iowa Innovation Corporation to establish and house the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center (IAMC) in the Tech I building on the TechWorks Campus.
For more information on the Iowa Innovation Council, the Iowa Innovation Corporation, the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Center, or the Iowa Innovation Council Legislative Reception on Feb. 5th, contact:
Tonja Richards
Director of Marketing and Communications
Iowa Innovation Corporation
tonja.richards@iowainnovationcoporation.com
(515)421-4038
For more information on the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Conference contact:
Pamela Wright, Business Development Manager
Hawkeye Community College
Pamela.wright@hawkeyecollege.edu
(319)296-2329 ext.3012
For information on the TechWorks Campus contact:
Steve Dust, CEO
Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber
sdust@cedarvalleyalliance.com
(319)232-1156
We are the leader in bringing business and community together to grow opportunities for the Cedar Valley. Partner with us to grow your business. Together we'll help the Cedar Valley thrive.
© 2024 Grow Cedar Valley. All rights reserved.
You must be logged in to post a comment.